NASHVILLE, Tenn. – After posting a season’s best in the long jump at the Niswonger Invitational senior Royce Dates earned OVC Co-Field Athlete of the Week on Wednesday.

Dates, the reigning Male Field Co-Athlete of the Year, cleared 7.50 meters at the meet hosted by East Tennessee State University on Saturday. The mark by the Memphis, Tenn. native is the best mark in the OVC this season.

For the senior the jump stands as his top leap since he set his personal best of 7.58 meters at the 2012 OVC Indoor Championships.

The honor marks the third time in just two weeks the track and field teams earned OVC accolades. Dates joins Amber Hughes and Quamel Prince who both picked up OVC Co-Track Performers of the Week last week.

Tennessee State’s track and field teams return to action next weekend for the TSU Invite on Saturday Feb. 1.